Device for preventing leakage around the valve-stems of internal-combustion engines



J. F. McGROTHE R AND J. L. DEEN. DEVICE FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE AROUND THE VALVE STEMS OF INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION. man MAI-I. 11. 1918. 1,338, 186. a t-ed Apr- 27, 1920.

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JOSEPH F. MCGROTHER AND JAMES L. DEEN, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR PREVENTING LEAKAGE AROUND THE VALVE-STEMS OF INTERNAL- COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 11, 1918. Serial No. 221,694.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that we, JOSEPH F. Mo- GRorHER and JAMES L. DEEN, both citizens of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Device for Preventing Leakage Around the Valve-Stems of Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention consists of a novel device for preventing leakage and supplying lubrication around the valve stems of internal combustion engines, which is adapted for use in conjunction with any longitudinal slidable valve stem or rod, but is especially adapted for the inlet valve, stems of internal combustion engines, where it is often diflicult, if not impossible, to prevent leakage and properly lubricate the stem where it passes through the valve casing.

When these valve .stems or rods become worn, a stream of air enters the explosion chamber with each suction stroke, thus preventing accurate control of the explosive mixture, and for the purpose of preventing this objectionable condition, we have provided a novel construction of packing and lubricating device, wherein a washer, preferably of asbestos, is supported upon the top of a sleeve whose lower end is threaded and acts as a gland, entering a stuffing box, through which the valve stem passes, the proper position of the parts being assured by the employment of a suitable tension device supported between a collar carried on the valve stem and the bottom of the stuffing, box.

By our novel construction, the liability of an uneven charge being taken into the cylinder under this leaking condition, which has a tendency to decrease the power, is obviated, and we further economize on fuel by eliminating any leakage between the valve and the valve guide.

By our'invention, the leakage of air between the valve stem and the guide thereof will be entirely obviated since when the valve is unseated, no leakage can take place and the proper carbureting of the gasolene will be greatly assisted so that the engine will operate in a regular andsatisfactory manner.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention we have shown in the accompanying drawings certain forms thereof which are at present preferred by us, since the same will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which our invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that our invention is notlimited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a vertical, sectional view of a device for preventing leakage around the valve stem of an internal combustion engine embodying our invention, certain parts being shown in elevation and the valve being shown in seated position.

Fig. 2 represents a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the valve unseated. I

Fig. 3 represents a vertical, sectional view showing our novel device in relation to the valve rod or stem and its adjuncts.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a portion of the valve casing of an internal combustion engine, said valve casing being shown in section.

2 designates a valve of the usual bevel seated type, and 3 designates the valve seat of a similar contour.

4 designates the valve stem, which in this class of valves is usually formed integral with the valve disk proper and projects downwardly through the elongated bearing 5, the lower end of said stem resting upon and being operated by the cam 6 mounted upon the cam shaft 7.

8 designates a pin through the bottom of the valve stem upon which rests the cup 9 against which abuts the lower end of the spring 10, whose upper end contacts with a suitable portion of the casing 1. The above parts may be of the usual conventional type, and require no further description.

11 designates a washer preferably of asbestos, which is seated in the cup-shaped portion 12 at the top of the gland 13, whose lower portion 14 is threaded and enters the stufling box 15, which is filled with packing 16 preferably asbestos.

17 designates a collar carried by the valve stem 4 and secured thereto by a set screw or other suitable device, above which collar is Patented Apr. 2'7, 1920.

located a spring 18, whose lower end abuts thereagainst, the upper end of said spring pressing against the bottom of the stufling box 15.

We preferably make the washer 11 and the packing 16 of asbestos, which serves both as a packing and as a lubricant or a lubricant container, and when the parts are assembled, as will be understood from Fig. 3, it will be apparent that the bottom or lower end of the elongated bearing 5 will be effectually sealed by the asbestos washer 11, and that there is no liability of leakage when the explosive mixture enters the inlet chamber 19.

The gland 13 is provided with holes 20 and the stuffing box 15 is provided with holes 21, whereby a pin or any other suitable implement can be inserted for the purpose of varying the pressure upon the asbestos washer 12 and the packing 1G.

It will be understood by those skilled in. the art, that in'practice owing to the continual and rapid reciprocations of the valve stem 4' through its bearing 5, after the stem or its bearing wears, when the valve is raised a quantity of air ispermitted to be sucked in therethrough, together with the explosive mixture flowing in from the carbureter into the chamber .19, thereby weakening theexplosive mixture to such an extent that sometimes the charge will not ignite, thus causing much trouble and greatly reducing the efficiency of the engine.

As some of the bearings 5 or valve stems 4 are liable to wear more than others, it consequently becomes frequently difficult, if not impossible, to satisfy the different conditions under which each cylinder may be operating. As the leak is liable to vary at each intake valve, it consequently causes the carbureter to be unmanageable, due to the fact that the properamount of gas allowed to enter the manifold must be in such proportion as to create the proper mixture for the cylinder which is controlled by the valve which has the largest leak through the valve guide, thus unnecessarily causing a wasteful rich mixture for the other cylinders which are controlled by the valves which have a lesser leak.

All of these unsatisfactory conditions are obviated by the use of our device, which will increase the power factor, and our device not only will not cause a valve or valves to stick, but will, in addition, by reason of its lubricating and packing properties, assist in the proper action of the valve and it can be readily attached to existing valve stems in a short space of time by unskilled labor, and as the device rides on the valve stem, it can not cause any trouble in connection therewith.

It will further be apparent when the valve is unseated, that by our novel collocation of packing devices, the washer 11 is then tightly squeezed against the bottom of the bearing 5 by the spring 18, which is then compressed at'the period when this condition is most desirable, so that no leakage can occur, and the asbestos, in addition, serves to retain a suitable lubricant, so that proper lubrication is at all times obtained.

It will be further apparent that by reason of the provision of the threaded connection rvised a novel and useful construction of a device for preventing leakage around the valve stems of internal combustion engines, which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and while we have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. The combination with a valve seat having a tubular bearing, of a valve to engage the seat, a stem for the valve passing through the tubular bearing, a gland slidable upon the stem and provided at one end with a cupshaped portion, said gland being exteriorly threaded, a cup-shaped packing element arranged within said cup-shaped portion and receiving the end of the tubular bearing, a stufling box slidable upon the stem and receiving in one end thereof the end of the gland and having screw-threaded engagement therewith, packing arranged within the stuffing box, an inner coil spring surrounding the stem and engaging the lower end of the stufling box, a collar carried by the stem and engaging said spring, an outer coil spring surrounding the stem and engaging the tubular bearing, and an element securedto the outer end of the stem and engaging the outer spring.

2. An engine valve structure comprising, a valve seat having a tubular bearing, a valve to engage the valve seat, a stem for the valve passing through the tubular bearing, a gland slidable upon the stem and provided at one end with a cup-shaped portion, the stufling box, and means to hold the gland said gland being exteriorly threaded, packand stuffing box against displacement.

ing arranged Within said cup-shaped por- JOSEPH F MGGROTHER tion and engaging the tubular bearing, a JAMES L 'DEEN stufling box slidable upon the stem and receiving in one end thereof the end of the Witnesses:

gland and having screw-threaded engage- GRoyER C. REEVES,

ment therewith, packing arranged Within GENEVIEVE MGGROTHER. 

